Integration Gaps Stall 24-hour Port Operations In Nigeria – Customs

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said that the implementation of 24-hour port operations in Nigeria continues to face operational challenges because other critical service providers, including banks, shipping companies and terminal operators, are yet to be fully integrated into the system.

The comptroller general of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed this following a high-level strategic meeting with the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Zahrah Audu.

The collaboration between the two institutions is aimed at dismantling long-standing bureaucratic bottlenecks by deploying advanced digital technologies into cargo clearance processes, with the broader goal of positioning Nigeria as a more competitive hub for global trade.

According to Adeniyi, the success of round-the-clock port operations depends on full participation across the entire logistics value chain.

“We once deployed officers to support round-the-clock port operations, but the effort faced challenges because other critical operators such as banks, shipping companies and terminal operators were not fully integrated into the arrangement,” Adeniyi said.

The Customs boss reiterated the Service’s commitment to building a fully paperless port system as part of broader reforms to modernise Nigeria’s trade facilitation framework.

He explained that the Service has institutionalised regular consultations with key stakeholder groups, including the American Business Council and other trade associations, to identify operational concerns and strengthen collaboration within the port ecosystem.

According to him, such engagements allow the Service to obtain direct feedback from businesses that interact with Customs at the nation’s seaport.

Adeniyi further disclosed that the Service, in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO), recently conducted a Time Release Study (TRS) to scientifically assess the time and cost required to clear cargo at Nigerian ports.

Using Tin Can Island Port as a case study, the exercise involved shipping companies, terminal operators, the Nigerian Ports Authority, licensed customs agents and financial institutions.

The study’s findings were compiled into a report, which was publicly launched on January 26, 2026.

“We deliberately involved every segment of the port community in the exercise so that the findings would reflect the real operational environment. The report has already provided valuable insights that are guiding some of the reforms we are implementing,” Adeniyi said.

He noted that while some of the concerns raised by stakeholders have already been addressed, others will continue to shape future reforms within the Service.

The comptroller general also revealed that the Service is advancing plans to establish a fully paperless Customs environment. He said most core processes-including pre-arrival documentation, cargo declaration, duty payment and release communication- have already been digitised.

“Where delays still occur, they are often linked to operators who continue to rely on physical documentation. That is an area we intend to address in the coming months,” he added.

Adeniyi also highlighted ongoing investments in cargo scanning technology and ICT infrastructure to strengthen risk-based cargo management and reduce reliance on physical cargo examination.

According to him, development partners such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organisation have continued to encourage Nigeria to expand the use of non-intrusive inspection technologies in line with global best practices.

Earlier in her remarks, Audu said PEBEC is currently implementing a 90-day Business Environment Enhancement Programme designed to address operational challenges identified in its Business Facilitation Compliance Report released in November 2025.

She explained that the programme seeks to improve efficiency across business-facing Ministries, Departments and Agencies by strengthening collaboration and removing bottlenecks that affect the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

As part of the initiative, PEBEC conducted a three-day operational assessment at Lagos ports in partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority, observing cargo-handling processes from vessel arrival to cargo exit, while consulting regulators and private-sector stakeholders.

“The exercise enabled us to identify key operational challenges affecting port efficiency and to develop practical recommendations for improvement,” she said.

Among the key issues highlighted were the need to strengthen joint vessel boarding by regulatory agencies, improve coordination of cargo inspections, and expand the deployment of digital technologies in port operations.

Also speaking, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, noted that vessel arrival schedules already provide sufficient information for operational planning at the ports.

According to her, the effective use of such data would enable Customs to deploy officers more strategically, rather than maintaining personnel at terminals while awaiting vessel arrivals.

“The concept of 24-hour port operations should focus on smarter deployment of personnel based on vessel schedules, not merely extending working hours,” Adebakin said.

She further expressed the Service’s readiness to address operational issues raised through the PEBEC reporting platform, emphasising that sustained collaboration between the two institutions is essential for improving port efficiency and strengthening Nigeria’s business environment.

The Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade also reiterated the effectiveness of the Service’s trade facilitation tools designed to expedite cargo clearance for trusted traders. These include the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, the Advance Ruling System, and the One-Stop-Shop, all introduced to support the Federal Government’s goal of improving trade efficiency in Nigeria.